Page:Secret History of the Court of the Emperor Justinian 1674.djvu/167

 and desires to make more then ordinary Expe­dition, he wants every thing that is necessary, as having no convenience to carry his Baggage: And this was the great care he took of things which were of the greatest consequence for the Conservation of the State; and to which, he ought to have applied himself with particular diligence. Though this that has been said, has been sufficient, I cannot contain from adding another story of him, which in my judgment is very ridiculous.

There was in Cesarea an Advocate called Evangelus, who having had very good fortune, was grown so rich, that he bought for Three hundred Livers of Gold, a great Town called Porphyrian, which is scituate upon the Sea-shore. The news of his purchase being brought to Justinian, he took it from him, returning but a very inconsiderable part of what it cost, and alledging only, That it was not a decent thing to see so great, and so beautiful a Town in the hands of such a Lawyer as Evangelus. But enough of this subject, what remains to be spoken of, is only of some things which were innovated by Justinian and Theodora.

When the Senators went to salute the Em­peror, they did it as follows. Every one who was of a Patrician family, kissed the Emperors right Cheek, when he came in, and when he went out the Emperor kissed his Head: All the rest that were of inferior rank, retired after they had clapped their right knee upon the ground; and